I Rely on My Versatility to Reach the Top of the Entertainment Industry [Ancient Times to Modern] - Chapter 35

The live stream ended, and the five guests were about to head to an underdeveloped tropical rainforest area in the country for a month of difficult survival.

The mode of transportation to the destination was by plane, and the recording began as soon as the guests left their homes.

The rules stipulated that the only items the guests could bring were clothes, so their bags were inspected before departure.

Following Lu Yuzhi’s advice, Jing Yi packed a windbreaker, hiking boots, quick-drying long-sleeved shirts and pants, gloves, a raincoat, and a sleeping bag.

During the bag inspection, the staff member nodded and asked Jing Yi how he planned to get to the airport for the gathering.

Jing Yi glanced at the camera, zipped up his backpack, and slung it over his shoulder, saying, “We’ll take a taxi.”

The staff member and the cameraman exchanged a look before reluctantly following Jing Yi.

After all, Jing Yi was currently a trending figure in the entertainment industry—how could he possibly take a taxi to go out?

They quickly arrived at the airport by taxi.

As soon as Jing Yi stepped into the public hall of the airport, he heard someone calling his name.

He turned to look and saw that it was Xu Sisi calling out to him.

Holding a small cartoon monk sign, Xu Sisi smiled brightly and waved, shouting, “Ready, begin!”

Behind her, a row of girls stood straight, holding glow sticks, and chanted in unison: “Wishing our Yi Zai a successful challenge and a triumphant return!”

They occupied a spot near the entrance of the airport hall without causing any disruption.

Jing Yi recognized them as his fan group and knew this was a common practice—fans seeing celebrities off at the airport.

He removed his mask and hat, walking to the center in front of the fans.

The fans fell silent, their eyes wide as they stared at Jing Yi.

Their Yi Zai was no longer the dazzling little lightbulb; he now had soft, natural black short hair. But his face remained the same—fair, handsome, with perfect features, exuding a calm and serene expression.

“Thank you for coming to see this humble monk off,” Jing Yi said, clasping his hands together and bowing solemnly. “This humble monk is off to catch his flight. Please return to your own affairs as well.”

“It’s happening, it’s happening! Yi Zai’s self-reference and Buddhist salute!” one fan whispered, covering her mouth.

She looked utterly thrilled.

The other fans nodded in agreement. Xu Sisi counted to three, and all the girls clasped their hands together, returning the gesture to Jing Yi.

It was a classic scene reminiscent of Xuan Kong and Liao Chen’s reunion.

Jing Yi smiled faintly, waved to the fans, and turned to leave.

On his way to the check-in counter, he encountered Lu Yuzhi, Ji Lin, and Sheng Xiaguang. The three stood in different poses, waiting with only one cameraman nearby.

In the center of the hall not far away, Fang Zexuan was shaking hands with a line of fans, wearing a gentle smile. The cameraman dutifully filmed him, though occasionally, when blocked by the camera, he would reveal a look of disdain.

Filming was his job, but once the five guests gathered at the airport, only one cameraman was needed for the shoot.

Fang Zexuan had been the first to arrive, claiming on camera that he didn’t want to keep others waiting. Yet, at the airport, he had been shaking hands and interacting intimately with fans for half an hour.

The cameraman, bound by his duties, couldn’t wrap up.

Faintly, the cameraman overheard some fans gossiping: “How laughable. Isn’t Jing Yi super popular now? Why did only fifteen people come to see him off?”

“Exactly, it’s so ridiculous. And they were standing in a corner—completely lacking any presence.”

The cameraman was utterly speechless.

The fans stood by the wall in an orderly manner, and there weren’t many of them, so they didn’t disrupt the airport hall’s order at all. Other people’s fans were also well-behaved—they left after seeing their idols. Unlike you all, occupying the very center and occasionally screaming or shouting slogans?

If we’re comparing fan numbers, Film Emperor Lu has way more followers on Weibo, yet he only brought 50 people to see him off, and they left right after.

Another 20 minutes passed before Fang Zexuan, reminded by his manager, finally bid farewell to his fans.

The five of them regrouped, each carrying their belongings through security, and entered the boarding lounge to wait.

Not long after, the plane arrived, and they boarded.

This was Jing Yi’s first time flying.

As the plane took off, his eyes sparkled as he gazed out the window.

His seat was on the aisle side, while the window seat belonged to Sheng Xiaguang.

The dark-haired man with a strikingly aggressive appearance frowned, following Jing Yi’s gaze outside for a while before he couldn’t help but ask softly, “What are you looking at?”

Jing Yi shifted his gaze to Sheng Xiaguang’s face and replied with a light smile, “The clouds.”

Sheng Xiaguang: “What’s so interesting about clouds?”

Jing Yi tilted his head slightly: “They’re quite beautiful. Look at that one—doesn’t it look like a rabbit?”

Sheng Xiaguang: “…”

“Jing Yi, are you a primary school student?”

“I’m not.”

Jing Yi answered Sheng Xiaguang seriously before turning his head to look at the window on the other side.

But as soon as he turned, he met Lu Yuzhi’s gaze.

Lu Yuzhi’s lips curved into a smile: “Want to see the clouds on this side?”

Jing Yi nodded.

The person next to Lu Yuzhi was a foreigner. Lu Yuzhi turned and said a few words to him in English. The foreigner smiled, pulled down the tray table in front of him, and leaned forward onto it.

Lu Yuzhi did the same.

With the obstruction gone, Jing Yi could clearly see the clouds outside Lu Yuzhi’s window.

The sky was a brilliant blue, and the clouds took on countless shapes.

“Thank you,” Jing Yi said in English to the foreign friend.

The foreigner replied that it was no problem and leaned back in his seat.

Jing Yi turned back to look out his own window.

Sheng Xiaguang had originally put on sunglasses to nap, but whether it was because Jing Yi’s gaze was too penetrating or something else, he just couldn’t get comfortable.

He had no choice but to take off his sunglasses and pick up a magazine to read.

After some time, Sheng Xiaguang glanced over again and realized Jing Yi had fallen asleep.

The early spring weather was still a bit chilly.

Just as Sheng Xiaguang was about to call a flight attendant for a blanket, Lu Yuzhi beat him to it.

The blanket was draped over Jing Yi, whose eyelashes fluttered twice, but he didn’t wake.

Sheng Xiaguang and Lu Yuzhi exchanged glances over Jing Yi’s sleeping face—neither’s expression was particularly friendly. After a brief moment, both looked back at Jing Yi.

The flight lasted four hours.

When they arrived at their destination, Jing Yi was awakened by the calls of Lu Yuzhi and Sheng Xiaguang.

He rose groggily, still unsteady on his feet, when Lu Yuzhi took his hand.

The man with a gentle expression smiled and said, “You still look half-asleep. Follow me.”

Sheng Xiaguang frowned deeply, finding the sight of their clasped hands extremely irritating.

The group disembarked and boarded the van prepared by the production team, heading first to the developed scenic area for a meal.

After eating, the van continued onward, stopping by a stream.

Jing Yi got out of the vehicle.

Outside stood the instructor and two other personnel in camouflage uniforms. The instructor had a square face with a bruise and wore a stern expression.

“Hello, Instructor,” Jing Yi greeted the instructor, who nodded in response without speaking.

A program staff member spoke up: “These three will be your protectors once you enter the rainforest. They will only intervene if you’re truly in life-threatening danger.”

“Over the next month, you must cover at least 20 kilometers and cannot leave the forest early.”

Aside from these rules for the guests, the camera crew worked in three shifts.

The staff members carried positioning systems and took turns delivering the recorded footage out of the rainforest.

The five nodded, and Fang Zexuan rushed ahead, entering the rainforest first.

In the spring rainforest, the trees were lush and dense, with fresh light green and deep green leaves complementing each other. Perhaps because it had just rained, many broad-leaved plants still had water droplets on them.

“Wow, this is a banana flower,” Fang Zexuan pointed at a large flower nearby and spoke to the camera as if giving a lecture, explaining its habits and the fruit it bears.

The others remained silent.

Throughout the journey, Fang Zexuan was the only one talking.

As he chattered on, Fang Zexuan grew thirsty.

According to the rules, they could only bring clothing—no water was allowed.

Fang Zexuan, unbearably thirsty, had no choice but to ask his teammates for help: “Should we go find some water to drink?”

Jing Yi nodded in agreement.

He turned and started walking toward the direction of the water source.

“Where are you going, Jing Yi? Shouldn’t we go that way?” Fang Zexuan shouted, “I think the water source is over here, where there are fewer broad-leaved trees.”

Jing Yi looked back.

“It’s closer this way.”

Fang Zexuan sighed, as if dealing with an unreasonable teammate: “Fine, even though I’m really thirsty, I’ll respect your opinion.”

In his heart, he was sure Jing Yi was mistaken. After all, before entering the rainforest, he had studied intensively with experts on survival knowledge for tropical rainforest expeditions.

Harboring these thoughts, Fang Zexuan walked at the back of the group, his gaze tinged with a hint of schadenfreude.

Jing Yi pressed forward, his ears twitching slightly.

In the quiet jungle, several animals were lapping water not far away. The faint sounds were only audible with the aid of internal energy.

The cameraman focused the lens on Jing Yi at the front, capturing his concentrated expression as his ears moved.

After about five minutes, Jing Yi stopped and held out a hand to block his teammates behind him.

“I—”

“Why did you stop? It’s too late to turn back now!”

Fang Zexuan said as he walked forward, bypassing a large tree in front of him. Ahead, guarding a small water hole, were several gibbons drinking.

Startled by Fang Zexuan, the gibbons scrambled up the trees, chirping as they gathered their group.

The strongest one hung upside down from a branch, studied Fang Zexuan for a moment, then suddenly swooped down and grabbed his backpack.

Fang Zexuan was startled and, before he could react, the other gibbons swarmed over. He hurriedly took off his backpack, afraid he might be carried away.

The cameraman seemed to find the scene amusing and aimed the camera squarely at Fang Zexuan.

With the camera gone, the indifferent Ji Lin muttered under his breath, “Is he an idiot?”

Sheng Xiaguang glanced at Ji Lin and sneered, adding, “If not an idiot, then a fool.”

As they spoke, they saw Jing Yi take a step forward.

Sheng Xiaguang sighed helplessly, “And here’s another simpleton.”

Jing Yi had already grabbed onto the vines and climbed up a large tree. Using the vines tangled around the thick branches, he swung all the way to the tree where the gibbons were perched.

The gibbons were busy examining Fang Zexuan’s backpack when they saw Jing Yi approaching. Startled, they scrambled higher up the tree.